IEEP Senior Policy Analyst Erik Gerritsen Presentation at the Public Policy Exchange, Marivaux Hotel, Brussels, 20 March 2019

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Valuing biodiversity and reversing its
decline by 2030
Reflections on an EU biodiversity policy framework
beyond 2020 from the #Think2030 platform
20 March 2019, Public Policy Exchange event, Marivaux Hotel, Brussels

2. www.ieep.eu @IEEP_eu
About IEEP
• Sustainability think tank, specialised in evidence-based research and
policy insight
• Over 40-years of experience, committed to advancing impact-driven
sustainability policy across the EU and the world
• Nine thematic research areas covering short-term policy issues and
long-term strategic studies, including a biodiversity programme
• Integrating economic, environmental and social sustainability
• Working with stakeholders across EU institutions, international bodies,
academia, civil society

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#Think2030

5. #Think2030 developed within UN SDG framework

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Valuing biodiversity and reversing its decline by 2030
• Reflection paper on EU biodiversity policy framework
post-2020
• Briefly reflects on:
‒ Status of biodiversity in Europe
‒ EU policy response to drivers and deterrents of EU
biodiversity loss
‒ A new headline target
‒ Building blocks for EU policy action
• Contributions from BirdLife Europe; the French National
Center for Scientific Research (CNRS); the Belgian
Biodiversity Platform/BiodivERsA Partnership;
Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH);
Dutch Environment Assessment Agency (PBL); Ecologic
Institute

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Suggested building blocks for EU policy action
1. Building a social movement to halt biodiversity loss
2. Stepping up action to implement existing EU policies
3. Strengthening and reforming EU policy frameworks
4. Making the EU budget work for biodiversity
5. Increasing EU action to tackle global biodiversity loss
6. Supporting EU action through better knowledge and evidence

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Suggested building blocks for EU policy action
1. Building a social movement to halt biodiversity loss
2. Stepping up action to implement existing EU policies
3. Strengthening and reforming EU policy frameworks
4. Making the EU budget work for biodiversity
5. Increasing EU action to tackle global biodiversity loss
6. Supporting EU action through better knowledge and evidence.

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2. Stepping up action to implement existing EU policies
• Fully implementing the Birds and Habitats Directives, including the
Natura 2000 network
• Stepping up efforts to enforce EU environmental legislation and cross
compliance
• Implementing policies for the marine environment
• Strengthening and prioritising commitments for ecosystem restoration
• Implementing legislation on invasive alien species

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IEEP’s work: Drivers of success Birds- and Habitats
Directives (forthcoming)
• Some key success factors
‒ Clear policy framework and governance
‒ Sufficient short- and longer term funding
including from EU sources and access to it
‒ Scientific basis before implementation
‒ Habitat- and species action plans
‒ Inter-regional cooperation
‒ Stakeholder involvement
‒ Monitor, evaluate and enforce measures in
agriculture and forestry
‒ Implementation supporting policy esp WFD
• No surprising findings: But now based on
real and measure-driven improvements!

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Positive: Many success stories of EU conservation

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4. Making the EU budget work for biodiversity
• Ensure that EU funds do not contribute to biodiversity losses
• Deliver more and smarter funding for biodiversity action

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IEEP’s work

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River restoration in NL with support of EU LIFE funding

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5. Increasing EU action to tackle global biodiversity loss
• Supporting international action through ambitious agenda setting and
implementation, in particular through the CBD post-2020 biodiversity
framework and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
• Reducing the EU’s global footprint on biodiversity
• Strengthening links between the biodiversity and climate agendas

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IEEP’s work
Think 2030 papers ‘Feeding Europe’, the
bioeconomy and sustainable consumption

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From: Global Forest Watch
https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/global

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People see the climate-biodiversity link

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Erik Gerritsen - egerritsen@ieep.eu
https://think2030.eu/
https://ieep.eu/work-areas/biodiversity

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1. Building a social movement to halt biodiversity loss
• Inspire people about nature and biodiversity
• Recognise the diversity of people’s values and interests, enabling
genuine stakeholder dialogue, while using appropriate language and
methods of engagement to build consensus and motivate action
• Reconnect an increasingly urbanised society with nature
• Build the commitment of the private sector, harnessing its energy and
resources
• Focus on the links between nature and major societal challenges,
notably the enhancement of human health and wellbeing

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3. Strengthening and reforming EU and national policy
frameworks
• Further reforming the CAP
• Integrating biodiversity into forest management plans
• Defining and implementing plans for green infrastructure and
ecosystem restoration
• Improving coherence between the climate/energy and
biodiversity agendas
• Defining EU policy on no net loss of biodiversity

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6. Supporting EU action through better knowledge and
evidence
• Strengthening the evidence base relating to biodiversity and ecosystem
services
• Investing in effective and sustainable monitoring systems
• “Horizon scanning” to identify emerging threats and challenges and
policy responses to them

24. Absolute decoupling